Amazon’s live-action adaptation of the Sega hit Like a dragon series has finally landed and the show is already making waves. Titled Like a Dragon: YakuzaThe dark crime drama follows the series’ long-standing protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, in two time periods: firstly as a teenage orphan in 1995 and secondly as a hardened yakuza after ten years in prison in 2005. The adaptation borrows quite generously from the popular series an, remix of numerous elements of the first game and its prequel, Yakuza 0But what’s controversial is that it’s also charting its own path, and the move isn’t quite for everyone.
In a major change from the source material, Amazon’s adaptation appears to be mostly a straightforward and dark drama. The Like a dragon games are known for their soapy melodrama, their convoluted plots, their gigantic actors and their cinematic direction, but also have a strong tendency towards irreverence. The streets of Kamurocho, where the games primarily take place, are full of weirdos, like Mr. Libido, who circles and thrusts in manic and sexual frenzy during casual conversations. In the games, there is a Yakuza family made up of grown men in diapers who clearly suffer from an Oedipus complex. The next game in the series casts one of its best characters, Goro Majima, as an amnesiac pirate, and Kiryu could (and maybe should) leave the criminal underworld for a career in the arts because this man ruins a karaoke night like no other.
And yet, Like a Dragon: Yakuza There are no diaper-wearing yakuza, nor are there heartbreaking renditions of “Baka Mitai,” and that will surely disappoint a lot of people. This new show seems to leave aside many of those flourishes and embellishments that the untrained eye might see as fat Like a dragon games. However, you’re far more likely to find fans who will point to these diversions and detours as the very soul of the franchise, and I’m inclined to agree.
The cast and crew behind it Like a Dragon: Yakuza are not without reverence for the source material although. Interviews with the actors provided insight into the production and revealed that the logical development of Kiryu’s fighting skills was an important factor in preparing the lead actor. Ryōma Takeuchi, who plays Kiryu in the series, has gone on record saying that Kiryu’s fighting style varies between the different eras covered in the series and is intended to be consistent with his growth and outlook on life, and his performance appears to be one of the most general recognized highlights of the adaptation. Apparently there was also an emphasis on Kamurocho itself and the way the red light district (based on the real-life Kabukicho) evolves over time, similar to the games that span the decades between the late ’80s and the present. A spin-off even takes place in the mid-19th century, but that’s a topic for another day.
Aside from the strength of its main cast, however Like a Dragon: Yakuza seems to be a bit of a murky adaptation. Some reviews accuse it of oversimplifying the storylines to fit them into a too-short six-episode season. With the action of two major games combined in just a few hours, it appears that some popular characters have been minimized. The action choreography doesn’t always seem to jump off the screen, and the show seems to give the audience very little time and space to delve into the complicated structure of Japanese organized crime, with many “families” involved. Patriarchs, captains and more that I am Despite it Learn.
All in all, critics are divided, with some believing it’s another standout game adaptation in a year that’s already upon us Stand out and that its concessions to realism still allow enough of the games’ surreal spark to shine through, while others find it a creative failure that lacks everything that makes the games so memorable. Here’s what some reviewers say about Amazon Like a Dragon: Yakuza.
The performances of Kiryu (Ryoma Takeuchi), Nishiki (Kento Kaku) and Yumi (Yumi Kawai) provide a steely foundation for this show to build on, with each of them delivering deeply emotional performances that are truly complex and layered – above all Considering we’re essentially seeing two versions of these characters with two time periods. Takeuchi’s Kiryu in particular is a huge highlight, a daydreaming boy who transforms into a stoic warrior who still has a heart of gold that has never been broken. But beyond that, the rest of the cast deliver standout performances that make this world feel grounded, from the far-too-tired Detective Date (Subaru Shibutani) to the deliciously cold and unfeeling Dojima (Masaya Kato). Head of Tojo’s Dojima family.
Like a dragonThe other greatest strength of is that it is completely authentic. The show doesn’t shy away from using Japanese terms and Yakuza jargon, and the set design and costumes in particular offer a fascinating glimpse into Japan in 1995 and 2005. The floral shirts and Perm do haircuts Like a dragon Feels like a period piece as much as a drama, exploring the lives and inner workings of the Yakuza and the seedy town of Kamurocho. It’s also beautifully filmed and makes fantastic use of space and angle to enhance the character’s emotions.
But at the same time, this show takes inspiration from the video games and mixes a touch of surrealism and ridiculousness. There is only a small edge of unreality Like a dragon this gives it extra flavor – from the Fight club-style underground battle arena to a secret mass surveillance room run by a cop-turned-yakuza. It’s this mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar that makes Kamurocho such a compelling setting; It’s grounded and realistic, but with a touch of the unknown.
In some ways, I’ll admit it: I’m biased and went into this TV series with preconceived ideas because I’ve spent so much time playing these wonderful, stupid video games. I was struck by the wacky sense of humor that was completely missing from this narrative, even though that weirdness would have been difficult to pull off outside of a game where there are more natural ways to create barriers between different types of storytelling.
But Prime Video is responsible for that itself Like a Dragon: Yakuza falls short of its own goals. There are some inspiring glimpses here and there, and you can see the framework that could have formed a moving, decades-long story of tragedy and revenge. But because the series is so eager to jump from scene to scene, it becomes difficult to care about individual members of this large cast, robbing these twists of their dramatic power. In the end, it feels like the series borrows a number of superficial aspects from the games, such as names and storylines, but fails to convey the deeper reasons why these characters and their storylines worked, despite also not being convincing in things a new direction. Bad video game adaptations aren’t exactly unique, but I was hoping for more from the Dragon of Dojima.
The original game’s plot is reduced to a well-rehearsed story of theft and revenge – I’ll refrain from giving away the details, but both are an unsatisfying setup And Diploma. And by moving the events up Yakuza 0 From 1988 to 1995 there is no more commentary on the absurdity of bubble-era real estate economics in Tokyo. It’s actually strange how much money is in circulation now, while this was fundamentally not the case in real Japan.
This is not the world of Yakuza will not be reproduced well in any other way. Kamurochō’s detailed features are delightful. The show is most enjoyable when you take into account all the additional details of its world-building – I particularly like the cinema, which displays posters of period film showings (even acknowledging the huge response). Forrest Gump made in Japan after being released there in 1995). The final scenes here waste a ridiculous amount of the show’s budget on extras and really make the place feel living and breathing
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Without that Like a dragon As the name suggests, this series would receive very little attention. There is so little that is very Yakuza in tone, and it’s so uninspired by the games that it’s hard to recognize anything from them. There’s great character work from some of the cast – particularly Kento Kaku as Nishikiyama – but unfortunately nothing particularly interesting for them.
Video game adaptations shouldn’t be limited to within-line coloring so fans can get their reference. You should, like Like a Dragon: Yakuza Feel free to explore different aspects of a game’s mythos, even if that means leaving the series’ crazier elements on the cutting room floor and dedicating yourself fully to telling a mob story.
Despite its shortcomings Like a Dragon: Yakuza It’s not just a bold step forward that makes another step worthwhile Adaptation of a video game in the wake of Amazon’s Stand out seriesbut it also maintains the game’s compelling drama and humor while also kicking off what could be an exciting second season.
